Device for radio communications and method for establishing and maintaining communications between device and fixed location radio communication facilities

ABSTRACT

A method for automatically retuning a specific broadcast program for a mobile or transportable device includes instructing the mobile or transportable device to stay on a specific broadcast program; monitoring a radio signal of the specific broadcast program broadcast from a first fixed location radio communication facility, when the radio signal is weaker than a threshold value, the mobile or transportable device searches a database thereof to find radio communication parameters of a second fixed location radio communication facility that broadcasts the same program as the specific broadcast program and locates most closely to the current location of the mobile or transportable device; and operably retuning the mobile or transportable device in the specific broadcast program broadcast from the first fixed location radio communication facility to the second fixed location radio communication facility according to the radio communication parameters of the second fixed location radio communication facility.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/980,187, filed May 15, 2018, now allows, which claimspriority to and the benefit of, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/506,856, filed May 16, 2017,which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of radio frequencycommunications, and more particularly, to a mobile or transportabledevice for radio communications and method for establishing andmaintaining communications between device and fixed location radiocommunication facilities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the present invention. The subjectmatter discussed in the background of the invention section should notbe assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in thebackground of the invention section. Similarly, a problem mentioned inthe background of the invention section or associated with the subjectmatter of the background of the invention section should not be assumedto have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matterin the background of the invention section merely represents differentapproaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.

There exists a set of problems associated with establishing and/ormaintaining radio communications between a mobile or transportable radiocommunication device and fixed location radio communication facilities.These problems center on difficulties of identifying and tuning fixedradio communication facilities when arriving in a new local, and as themobile or transportable radio communication device moves from onelocation to another, relative to fixed location radio communicationfacilities. Fixed radio communication devices have propagationlimitations dependent upon a set of factors, some of which cannot bealtered. As a result, in various relative locations, a mobile ortransportable radio device cannot communicate with certain fixedlocation radio devices. Satellite radio broadcast facilities were, inpart, designed, developed, and built to overcome this problem.

Examples of the essential problem include but are not limited to thefollowing: an automobile driving form one city to another may experiencethe loss of an AM or FM radio broadcast because the vehicle travelsbeyond the propagation range of a specific station. A National PublicRadio broadcast from the Cleveland, Ohio area may not be received by anautomobile radio once it travels beyond the reception range going southtowards Columbus, Ohio. However, if the driver were to tune in anotherNational Public Radio station, located in Mansfield, Ohio, theautomobile occupants may continue to listen to the same broadcastprogramming, because the NPR system of broadcasting stationssimultaneously transmits the same program. However, if the driver doesnot know the broadcast frequency of the Mansfield station, the driverwill need to locate it by tuning the radio and listening for thespecific broadcast program. This could result in missing programsegments and/or distracted driving.

Amateur radio operators have erected automatic repeater stations andtransceivers (2 Meter, 220 Megahertz and 440 Megahertz) in mostmetropolitan areas in the United States and other countries. Theserepeater stations are inherently short range, normally less than 20miles. These automated stations work on differing frequencies andutilize differing operating protocols. While this information ispublished through many sources and is available on the internet, thestations' operating data must be inserted manually. If there are a largenumber of repeaters in a given area, say 25 to 50, it is a burden to theoperator of a mobile station to manually insert all of this information,as the driver enters a new operating area. Additionally, some of theserepeater stations are designated to support emergency communicationservices, and these designations are also published.

Boaters travelling from one area to another may want to communicate bymarine radio to local marine facilities to talk to a local marineservice provider that can offer a specific service. That boater may berequired to look up the frequency that the local marina has designatedfor a specific use and then tune his radio to the appropriatechannel/frequency.

There are over fifteen thousand AM and FM broadcast stations locatedthroughout the United States alone. And that number has been increasingeach year over the last fifteen years. There are many more worldwide.Every day millions of drivers in the United States drive distances whichwill transport them beyond the propagation range of AM and FM broadcaststations located in one location; yet much of the broadcast programmaterial is being simultaneously broadcast from other locations, and inmany instances, frequency knowledge and retuning the radio couldmaintain continuous reception of the program.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to addressthe aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention relates to a mobile or transportable devicefor radio communications. In one embodiment, the mobile or transportabledevice includes at least one antenna; a radio operating componentcoupled with the at least one antenna for receiving and/or transmittingradio signals; a database containing radio communication parameters offixed location radio communication facilities, wherein the radiocommunication parameters comprise a location, transmitting power, hoursof operation, antenna parameter, frequency, modulation type, andconnection protocol of each of the fixed location radio communicationfacilities; a location determining component for determining its currentlocation of the mobile or transportable device; and a computer componentcoupled with the radio operating component, the database and thelocation determining component, configured such that when a radio signalreceived by the radio operating component from one of the fixed locationradio communication facilities is weaker than a threshold value, thecomputer component searches the database to find radio communicationparameters of a fixed location radio communication facility that is theclosest radio communication facility to the current location of themobile or transportable device, and operably retunes the mobile ortransportable device according to the radio communication parameters ofthe closest radio communication facility.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device further includesan output component for audio output, video output, data output, textoutput, or a combination thereof, wherein the output component comprisesone or more speakers, one or more headphones, one or more displays, oneor more video devices, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device further includes auser interface component for inputting user instructions, wherein to theuser interface component comprises a key pad, a touch screen, a voicerecognition system, electronic switches and buttons, or motion sensingdevices and switches.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device further includes asignal sampling circuitry for performing pattern identification andpattern recognition of radio broadcast programming.

In one embodiment, the radio operating component comprises one or morereceivers, one or more transmitters, one or more transceivers, or acombination thereof.

In one embodiment, the radio operating component comprises a primaryreceiver for receiving the radio signal from one of the fixed locationradio communication facilities and a secondary receiver for continuouslyscanning a relevant radio frequency spectrum in order to sense andconfirm which one of the fixed location radio communication facilitiespresents in the database is reliably usable at the current location ofthe mobile or transportable device. In one embodiment, the radiooperating component operates using spread spectrum communicationprotocols.

In one embodiment, the radio operating component is capable of receivingradio communications from an earth orbiting satellite broadcast facilityin order to expand program selection and choices.

In one embodiment, the location determining component comprises a globalpositioning system (GPS) based locator, an inertial guidance system, ora terrain recognition system.

In one embodiment, the database is operably changeable and updateablethrough linkage to the internet by smart phones, smart phone networks,radio broadcast, satellite radio broadcast, or by insertion of aportable memory device.

In one embodiment, the radio communication parameters further compriseradio or TV broadcast program schedules associated with each of thefixed location radio communication facilities.

In one embodiment, the radio communication parameters further compriseinformation of programs and program schedules that are broadcast induplicate and simultaneously by multiple radio communication facilitiesin different locations.

In one embodiment, the database contains information organized in amatrix pattern of adjoining squares defined by geographic longitude andlatitude coordinates that cover a defined geographic area, wherein eachmatrix square is populated by data with digital designations of fixedlocation radio communication facilities that are detectable, based onsignal strength, when the mobile or transportable device locates in thatspecific geographic matrix square, wherein for each radio communicationfacility there is a digital representation of the probable signalstrength present at current time in each matrix square based uponcalculations using the published propagation maps of the fixed locationbroadcast facilities, or by calculations based upon terrain, distancebetween the mobile or transportable device and the broadcast station,respective transmit power, frequency, modulation type, and antenna gain.

In one embodiment, the database contains digital identifying codes thatcategorize program content of broadcast into groups including sportscommentary, football games, baseball games, basketball games, religiousnews, religious programming, alt-right news, alt-left news, syndicatednews commentary, network news, programming in Spanish and otherlanguages, music programming and specifically types of music programmingincluding retro rock music, oldies rock music, modern country, retrocountry, bluegrass; and other types of broadcast programming groups orcategories.

In one embodiment, the digital identifying codes identify those fixedlocation broadcast facilities that carry specific program content thatis simultaneously broadcast at multiple fixed location radiocommunication facilities.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device is connectable tothe internet using a smart phone, a direct hardwire connection, or aradio frequency link including Bluetooth so that the mobile ortransportable device is operably accessible to broadcasting of digitalradio stations on the internet in order to expand program selections andchoices and to provide additional connectivity to syndicated orsimultaneous broadcast programs that are used when other means ofprogram reception fails.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for automaticallyretuning a specific broadcast program from a first fixed location radiocommunication facility to a second fixed location radio communicationfacility for a mobile or transportable device.

In one embodiment, the method includes instructing the mobile ortransportable device to stay on a specific broadcast program;monitoring, by the mobile or transportable device, a radio signal of thespecific broadcast program broadcast from the first fixed location radiocommunication facility, when the radio signal is weaker than a thresholdvalue, the mobile or transportable device searches a database thereof tofind radio communication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility that broadcasts the same program as the specificbroadcast program and locates most closely to the current location ofthe mobile or transportable device; and operably retuning the mobile ortransportable device in the specific broadcast program broadcast fromthe first fixed location radio communication facility to the secondfixed location radio communication facility according to the radiocommunication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility.

In one embodiment, the method further includes establishing the rate anddirection of travel of the mobile or transportable device by reviewingthe previous travel path of the mobile or transportable device;projecting its future travel area of the mobile or transportable device;and selecting a new fixed location radio communication facilityaccording to the strength of the radio signal in the future travel areautilizing broadcast propagation data in the database of the mobile ortransportable device.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting of a group offixed location radio communication facilities in a given localityspecified by their common use mode.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting a local groupof fixed location repeater stations or transceivers that are operablycommunicable with given limits of propagation and reception of themobile or transportable device and the fixed location repeater stations;and retrieving local repeater station frequency and operating protocolsfrom the database, so as to enable the user to scan, monitor, and usethe local repeater stations for communication or emergency use.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting a group ofbroadcast stations broadcasting a category of program material orcontent and to scan those stations until the user selects viainput/command one station.

In one embodiment, the method further includes calculating a transmittedsignal strength of a fixed location radio communication facility at thecurrent location of the mobile or transportable device according to aformula of

RPD=P*G/(4*π*D)²,

wherein RPD is a receiver power density, P is a transmitted power, G isa transmitting antenna gain, and D is a distance between the transmitterof the fixed location radio communication facility and the receiver ofthe mobile or transportable device, and wherein RPD is measured in Wattsper square meter.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a non-transitorytangible computer-readable medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause a mobile or transportabledevice to perform a method for automatically retuning a specificbroadcast program from a first fixed location radio communicationfacility to a second fixed location radio communication facility.

In one embodiment, the method includes instructing the mobile ortransportable device to stay on a specific broadcast program;monitoring, by the mobile or transportable device, a radio signal of thespecific broadcast program broadcast from the first fixed location radiocommunication facility, when the radio signal is weaker than a thresholdvalue, the mobile or transportable device searches a database thereof tofind radio communication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility that broadcasts the same program as the specificbroadcast program and locates most closely to the current location ofthe mobile or transportable device; and operably retuning the mobile ortransportable device in the specific broadcast program broadcast fromthe first fixed location radio communication facility to the secondfixed location radio communication facility according to the radiocommunication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility.

In one embodiment, the method further includes establishing the rate anddirection of travel of the mobile or transportable device by reviewingthe previous travel path of the mobile or transportable device;projecting its future travel area of the mobile or transportable device;and selecting a new fixed location radio communication facilityaccording to the strength of the radio signal in the future travel areautilizing broadcast propagation data in the database of the mobile ortransportable device.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting of a group offixed location radio communication facilities in a given localityspecified by their common use mode.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting a local groupof fixed location repeater stations or transceivers that are operablycommunicable with given limits of propagation and reception of themobile or transportable device and the fixed location repeater stations;and retrieving local repeater station frequency and operating protocolsfrom the database, so as to enable the user to scan, monitor, and usethe local repeater stations for communication or emergency use.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting a group ofbroadcast stations broadcasting a category of program material orcontent and to scan those stations until the user selects viainput/command one station.

In one embodiment, the method further includes calculating a transmittedsignal strength of a fixed location radio communication facility at thecurrent location of the mobile or transportable device according to aformula of

RPD=P*G/(4*π*D)²,

wherein RPD is a receiver power density, P is a transmitted power, G isa transmitting antenna gain, and D is a distance between the transmitterof the fixed location radio communication facility and the receiver ofthe mobile or transportable device, and wherein RPD is measured in Wattsper square meter.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken inconjunction with the following drawings, although variations andmodifications therein may be affected without departing from the spiritand scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of theinvention and, together with the written description, serve to explainthe principles of the invention. The same reference numbers may be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements in theembodiments.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a mobile or transportable device for radiocommunications according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a flowchart for automatically retuning aspecific broadcast program from a first fixed location radiocommunication facility to a second fixed location radio communicationfacility for a mobile or transportable device according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows schematically a flowchart for automatically tuning of amobile or transportable device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates one exemplary example of how the mobile ortransportable device can maintain continuous program reception asautomobile transverses from the range of one fixed location broadcastingstation to the range of another where both fixed broadcast stations aresimultaneously transmitting the same program content. An example of suchprogram content is the National Public Radio's afternoon news show—“AllThings Considered”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsof the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this invention will be thorough and complete, and will fully conveythe scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like referencenumerals refer to like elements throughout.

The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinarymeanings in the art, within the context of the invention, and in thespecific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used todescribe the invention are discussed below, or elsewhere in thespecification, to provide additional guidance to the practitionerregarding the description of the invention. For convenience, certainterms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotationmarks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaningof a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the samecontext, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated thatsame thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternativelanguage and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the termsdiscussed herein, nor is any special significance to be placed uponwhether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms forcertain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does notexclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in thisspecification including examples of any terms discussed herein isillustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of theinvention or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the invention is notlimited to various embodiments given in this specification.

It will be understood that, as used in the description herein andthroughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the”includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Also, it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being“on” another element, it can be directly on the other element orintervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there areno intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms areonly used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus,a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed belowcould be termed a second element, component, region, layer or sectionwithout departing from the teachings of the invention.

Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or“top,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship toanother element as illustrated in the figures. It will be understoodthat relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Forexample, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elementsdescribed as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then beoriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. The exemplary term“lower”, can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of “lower” and“upper,” depending of the particular orientation of the figure.Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elementsdescribed as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented“above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “below” or “beneath”can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” or “has” and/or “having”,or “carry” and/or “carrying,” or “contain” and/or “containing,” or“involve” and/or “involving, and the like are to be open-ended, i.e., tomean including but not limited to. When used in this invention, theyspecify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers,steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent invention, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The following description is merely illustrative in nature and is in noway intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. Thebroad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety offorms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples,the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since othermodifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, thespecification, and the following claims. For purposes of clarity, thesame reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similarelements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C shouldbe construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusivelogical OR. It should be understood that one or more steps within amethod may be executed in different order (or concurrently) withoutaltering the principles of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term module may refer to, be part of, or include anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); an electronic circuit; acombinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); aprocessor (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; othersuitable hardware components that provide the described functionality;or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in asystem-on-chip. The term module may include memory (shared, dedicated,or group) that stores code executed by the processor.

The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/ormicrocode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes,and/or objects. The term shared, as used above, means that some or allcode from multiple modules may be executed using a single (shared)processor. In addition, some or all code from multiple modules may bestored by a single (shared) memory. The term group, as used above, meansthat some or all code from a single module may be executed using a groupof processors. In addition, some or all code from a single module may bestored using a group of memories.

The apparatuses and methods will be described in the following detaileddescription and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by variousblocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectivelyreferred to as “elements”). These elements may be implemented usingelectronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof.Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software dependsupon the particular application and design constraints imposed on theoverall system. By way of example, an element, or any portion of anelement, or any combination of elements may be implemented as a“processing system” that includes one or more processors. Examples ofprocessors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, graphicsprocessing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), applicationprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction setcomputing (RISC) processors, systems on a chip (SoC), basebandprocessors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logicdevices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits,and other suitable hardware configured to perform the variousfunctionality described throughout this disclosure. One or moreprocessors in the processing system may execute software. Software shallbe construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, codesegments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components,applications, software applications, software packages, routines,subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures,functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware,microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

Accordingly, in one or more example embodiments, the functions describedmay be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded asone or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage mediamay be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise arandom-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of theaforementioned types of computer-readable media, or any other mediumthat can be used to store computer executable code in the form ofinstructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

The description below is merely illustrative in nature and is in no wayintended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. The broadteachings of the invention can be implemented in a variety of forms.Therefore, while this invention includes particular examples, the truescope of the invention should not be so limited since othermodifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, thespecification, and the following claims. For purposes of clarity, thesame reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similarelements. It should be understood that one or more steps within a methodmay be executed in different order (or concurrently) without alteringthe principles of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile or transportable device for radiocommunications is shown according to one embodiment of the invention. Inthis exemplary embodiment, the mobile or transportable device includesat least one antenna; a radio operating component coupled with the atleast one antenna for receiving and/or transmitting radio signals; adatabase containing radio communication parameters of fixed locationradio communication facilities, wherein the radio communicationparameters comprise a location, transmitting power, hours of operation,antenna parameter, frequency, modulation type, and connection protocolof each of the fixed location radio communication facilities; a locationdetermining component for determining its current location of the mobileor transportable device; and a computer component coupled with the radiooperating component, the database and the location determiningcomponent, configured such that when a radio signal received by theradio operating component from one of the fixed location radiocommunication facilities is weaker than a threshold value, the computercomponent searches the database to find radio communication parametersof a fixed location radio communication facility that is the closestradio communication facility to the current location of the mobile ortransportable device, and operably retunes the mobile or transportabledevice according to the radio communication parameters of the closestradio communication facility. The mobile or transportable device furtherincludes an output component for audio output, video output, dataoutput, text output, or a combination thereof, wherein the outputcomponent comprises one or more speakers, one or more headphones, one ormore displays, one or more video devices, or a combination thereof.

The mobile or transportable device further includes a user interfacecomponent for inputting user instructions, wherein to the user interfacecomponent comprises a key pad, a touch screen, a voice recognitionsystem, electronic switches and buttons, or motion sensing devices andswitches.

The mobile or transportable device may also include an update portal forupdating the database.

The mobile or transportable device may further include a signal samplingcircuitry for performing pattern identification and pattern recognitionof radio broadcast programming.

In one embodiment, the computer component includes a microcontroller, orthe likes.

In one embodiment, the radio operating component comprises one or morereceivers, one or more transmitters, one or more transceivers, or acombination thereof.

In one embodiment, the radio operating component comprises a primaryreceiver for receiving the radio signal from one of the fixed locationradio communication facilities and a secondary receiver for continuouslyscanning a relevant radio frequency spectrum in order to sense andconfirm which one of the fixed location radio communication facilitiespresents in the database is reliably usable at the current location ofthe mobile or transportable device.

In one embodiment, the radio operating component operates using spreadspectrum communication protocols.

In one embodiment, the radio operating component is capable of receivingradio communications from an earth orbiting satellite broadcast facilityin order to expand program selection and choices.

In one embodiment, the location determining component comprises a globalpositioning system (GPS) based locator, an inertial guidance system, ora terrain recognition system.

In one embodiment, the database is operably changeable and updateablethrough linkage to the internet by smart phones, smart phone networks,radio broadcast, satellite radio broadcast, or by insertion of aportable memory device.

In one embodiment, the radio communication parameters further compriseradio or TV broadcast program schedules associated with each of thefixed location radio communication facilities.

In one embodiment, the radio communication parameters further compriseinformation of programs and program schedules that are broadcast induplicate and simultaneously by multiple radio communication facilitiesin different locations.

In one embodiment, the database contains information organized in amatrix pattern of adjoining squares defined by geographic longitude andlatitude coordinates that cover a defined geographic area, wherein eachmatrix square is populated by data with digital designations of fixedlocation radio communication facilities that are detectable, based onsignal strength, when the mobile or transportable device locates in thatspecific geographic matrix square, wherein for each radio communicationfacility there is a digital representation of the probable signalstrength present at current time in each matrix square based uponcalculations using the published propagation maps of the fixed locationbroadcast facilities, or by calculations based upon terrain, distancebetween the mobile or transportable device and the broadcast station,respective transmit power, frequency, modulation type, and antenna gain.

In one embodiment, the database contains digital identifying codes thatcategorize program content of broadcast into groups including sportscommentary, football games, baseball games, basketball games, religiousnews, religious programming, alt-right news, alt-left news, syndicatednews commentary, network news, programming in Spanish and otherlanguages, music programming and specifically types of music programmingincluding retro rock music, oldies rock music, modern country, retrocountry, bluegrass; and other types of broadcast programming groups orcategories.

In one embodiment, the digital identifying codes identify those fixedlocation broadcast facilities that carry specific program content thatis simultaneously broadcast at multiple fixed location radiocommunication facilities.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device is connectable tothe internet using a smart phone, a direct hardwire connection, or aradio frequency link including Bluetooth so that the mobile ortransportable device is operably accessible to broadcasting of digitalradio stations on the internet in order to expand program selections andchoices and to provide additional connectivity to syndicated orsimultaneous broadcast programs that are used when other means ofprogram reception fails.

Referring to FIG. 2, a method for automatically retuning a specificbroadcast program from a first fixed location radio communicationfacility to a second fixed location radio communication facility for amobile or transportable device is shown according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

In this exemplary embodiment, the method includes the following steps.At step 210, the mobile or transportable device is instructed to stay ona specific broadcast program. The instruction can be made by a user viathe user interface component or other input means.

At step 220, the mobile or transportable device monitors a radio signalof the specific broadcast program broadcast from the first fixedlocation radio communication facility, when the radio signal is weakerthan a threshold value, the mobile or transportable device searches adatabase thereof to find radio communication parameters of the secondfixed location radio communication facility that broadcasts the sameprogram as the specific broadcast program and locates most closely tothe current location of the mobile or transportable device.

At step 230, the mobile or transportable device is retuned in thespecific broadcast program broadcast from the first fixed location radiocommunication facility to the second fixed location radio communicationfacility according to the radio communication parameters of the secondfixed location radio communication facility.

In one embodiment, the method further includes establishing the rate anddirection of travel of the mobile or transportable device by reviewingthe previous travel path of the mobile or transportable device;projecting its future travel area of the mobile or transportable device;and selecting a new fixed location radio communication facilityaccording to the strength of the radio signal in the future travel areautilizing broadcast propagation data in the database of the mobile ortransportable device.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting of a group offixed location radio communication facilities in a given localityspecified by their common use mode.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting a local groupof fixed location repeater stations or transceivers that are operablycommunicable with given limits of propagation and reception of themobile or transportable device and the fixed location repeater stations;and retrieving local repeater station frequency and operating protocolsfrom the database, so as to enable the user to scan, monitor, and usethe local repeater stations for communication or emergency use.

In one embodiment, the method further includes selecting a group ofbroadcast stations broadcasting a category of program material orcontent and to scan those stations until the user selects viainput/command one station.

In one embodiment, the method further includes calculating transmittedsignal strength of a fixed location radio communication facility at thecurrent location of the mobile or transportable device according to aformula of

RPD=P*G/(4*π*D)²,

wherein RPD is a receiver power density, P is a transmitted power, G isa transmitting antenna gain, and D is a distance between the transmitterof the fixed location radio communication facility and the receiver ofthe mobile or transportable device, and wherein RPD is measured in Wattsper square meter.

It should be noted that all or a part of the steps according to theembodiments of the present invention is implemented by hardware or aprogram instructing relevant hardware. Yet another aspect of theinvention provides a non-transitory tangible computer-readable mediumstoring instructions which, when executed by one or more processors,cause the mobile or transportable device to perform the above method forautomatically retuning a specific broadcast program from a first fixedlocation radio communication facility to a second fixed location radiocommunication facility. The computer executable instructions or programcodes enable a computer or a similar computing system to completevarious operations in the above disclosed method for privilegemanagement. The storage medium/memory may include, but is not limitedto, high-speed random access medium/memory such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAMor other random access solid state memory devices, and non-volatilememory such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical diskstorage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid statestorage devices.

Without intent to limit the scope of the invention, examples and theirrelated results according to the embodiments of the present inventionare given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in theexamples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit thescope of the invention. Moreover, certain theories are proposed anddisclosed herein; however, in no way they, whether they are right orwrong, should limit the scope of the invention so long as the inventionis practiced according to the invention without regard for anyparticular theory or scheme of action.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device for radiocommunications records its current location and automatically orsemi-automatically establishes, and/or maintains, and/or improves and/orenhances communication with fixed location radio communicationfacilities. The mobile or transportable device can communicate audio,video, or data content. The mobile or transportable device can transmit,receive or accomplish both (transceiver). The mobile or transportabledevice uses an internal database which contains one or more data sets.What is established as unique by the invention is the internalcapability of calculating and determining the potential success ofcommunicating with fixed location radio frequency stations, and thenestablishing and/or maintaining that communication link based on thatinternal capability.

There can be multiple data sets. For example, one data set containsinformation enabling the calculation of, or describing the signalstrength of fixed location radio communication facilities in allgeographic locations in which the present invention may practically belocated. This data set may also contain receive and transmit parametersincluding but not limited to frequency, type of modulation, antennaparameters, transmit power and receiver sensitivity, hours of operation,transmit power limitations during certain daily time spans, and anyother information which delineates the propagation of a fixed locationradio communication facility signal. The mobile or transportable devicemay contain a radio receiver, a radio transmitter, a radio transceiver,any combination of these components, or more than one of each of thesecomponents. Therefore, the data sets respectively contain the necessaryinformation to describe, for any given location, the fixed locationradio facilities that can be communicated with reliably, given normalconditions.

Another data set contains information describing the scheduledprogramming of fixed location broadcast facilities.

An additional data set may contain information which identifies specialfixed location radio communication facilities by the service which thesefacilities offer, or a special designated use, such as emergencycommunication.

Other data sets may be included in the invention's database dependent ondiffering uses of the device.

In certain embodiments, the mobile or transportable device operates bysensing and establishing its geographic location, searching the firstdatabase, and determining the fixed location radio communicationfacilities with which it can receive and/or transmit (usablefacilities). Following the identification of the usable fixed locationfacilities, and based upon user demands, the mobile or transportabledevice can tune a single station to receive, transmit to or both. Themobile or transportable device can display video or output audio ordisplay data. The mobile or transportable device can also combine theseoutputs. The mobile or transportable device is also capable of recordingall three forms of radio frequency content for later use. The mobile ortransportable device may also scan all the specified type of usablefixed location radio communication facilities, or enable the user toselect one or more of the usable facilities to establish communication.

In certain embodiments, the mobile or transportable device has multiplecomponents: one or more radio receivers, transceivers, or transmitter; acontrol computer; a clock; a database having one or multiple data sets;a manual user interface, hard wired and/or wireless and/or a voicerecognition system for user interface; one or more antennas; anelectronic location determining component such as a GPS; appropriateoutput devices for specific content, such as video, audio and data; apower source; and other components to enhance functionality.

In certain embodiments, the mobile or transportable device may beinstalled or attached to a vehicle that is capable of traveling morethan 3,500 feet; or it may be portable or transportable because of itssize weight and design. In certain embodiments, the mobile ortransportable device can be moved into and out of the communicationrange of fixed location radio communication facilities.

An exemplary embodiment of the mobile or transportable device isillustrated in FIG. 4. As an automobile travels from one metro area toanother it will probably transverse out of the reception range of someof the fixed location AM and FM broadcast stations located in the metroarea it was leaving. Additionally as the automobile approaches thesecond metro area it will come within the reception range of fixedlocation AM and FM broadcast stations located in that second metro area.In this example, two radio broadcast stations located separately in thetwo metro areas are broadcasting simultaneously the same program contentsuch as National Public Radio's news broadcast “All Things Considered”.

By design the FCC, in cooperation with broadcasters, attempts to insurethat most national broadcast program content can be received throughoutthe country. As a result there is some overlap of reception betweensimulcast broadcasts between metro areas. In those instances the mobileor transportable device can maintain reception of a specific programbroadcast as the automobile transports from one reception area toanother; and in this example it would be National Public Radio's newsprogram—“All Things Considered”.

The mobile or transportable device accomplishes this by automaticallyretuning the radio receiver from the frequency of the first broadcaststation to the frequency of the second broadcast station. This retuningis accomplished by the following steps. Firstly, the user commands themobile or transportable device through the user interface to stay on the“All Things Considered” program. Secondly, the mobile or transportabledevice monitors the signal strength of the broadcast. As the signalstrength weakens, the mobile or transportable device searches itsdatabase to identify another station which is broadcasting the sameprogram content, and additionally has larger signal strength at thecurrent location of the automobile. The third step is that the controlcomputer directs the radio to be re-tuned to the frequency of thestation which has larger signal strength. More sophisticated re-tuningcan be accomplished by the control computer establishing the rate anddirection of travel by review of the previous travel path of theautomobile and projecting its future travel area; then selecting the newstation according to the signal strength in the future travel areautilizing broadcast propagation data in the mobile or transportabledevice's database.

Another exemplary embodiment of the mobile or transportable device isthe selection of a group of fixed location radio communicationfacilities in a given locality specified by their common use mode. Theseselected facilities can then be used or operated for specific purposes.Amateur radio operators have erected automatic repeater stations (2Meter, 220 Megahertz and 440 Megahertz) in most metropolitan areas inthe United States and other countries. These repeater stations areinherently short range, normally less than 20 miles. These automatedstations work on differing specific frequencies and utilize differingoperating protocols. While this information is published through manysources and is available on the internet, the stations' operating datamust be inserted manually. If there are a large number of repeaters in agiven area, say 25 to 50, it is a burden to the operator of a mobilestation to manually insert all of this information, as he enters a newoperating area. Additionally some of these repeater stations aredesignated to support emergency communication services, and thesedesignations are also published.

The mobile or transportable device, at the users command, can retrievelocal repeater station frequency and operating protocols from itsdatabase, and enable the user to scan, monitor, and use the localrepeater stations for communication or emergency use without completingby hand, the task of entering those respective frequencies or protocols.So as the user travels from one area to another the present inventioncan automatically insert the operating data of those repeater stationsthat can be reached from the traveler's current location.

Using this capability emergency service providers, police, militaryemergency service operations, utility service providers, and fire andrescue mobile units can use the present inventions capabilities toestablish, maintain, or make more convenient, radio frequencycommunication when they travel from one local to another.

In one exemplary embodiment, the mobile or transportable device has,among other things, the following interconnected components:

(A). a radio frequency operating component which may include a receiverand/or transmitter or multiple receivers and/or transmitters, which cantransmit and/or receive, modulate and/or demodulate radio frequencysignals and which may operate using spread spectrum communicationprotocols;

(B). an electronic location determining component including but notlimited to a GPS based locator, an inertial guidance system, or aterrain recognition system;

(C). a component which is an antenna or an array of multiple antennas;

(D). a suitable output component directing to the user either audiooutput; video output, data output, text output or any combination ofthose outputs, where the output component may include speakers,headphones, LCD screens or other video devices;

(E). a computer component to control all aspects of the operation of theinvented device and which includes any combination of the followingparts: a central processing unit, random access memory, updateable readonly memory for the firmware, a hard drive which may be solid state, anoperating system, and program software, analogue to digital convertingcircuitry, digital to analogue converting circuitry, digital input andoutput circuitry, and power switches to direct commands to othercomponents of the invented device;

(F). a database component containing radio frequency wirelesscommunication parameters of fixed location radio frequency transmitter,receiver or transceiver facilities, and their location expressed innormal longitude and latitude notation, where the communicationparameters include but are not limited to location, transmitting power,hours of operation, parameters of the antenna system, antenna/antennasgain, the effective altitude of the antenna/antennas, and any othertechnical factors affecting the propagation of the signal, frequency,type of modulation, and connection protocols, where the database alsocontains the sensitivity, measured in micro volts, of the inventeddevice's receiver or receivers along with the transmitting power,measured in watts, of any integrated transmitting components;

(G). a user interface component to pass user instructions to thecontrolling computer which can be, but not limited to, a key pad,electronic switches and buttons, touch screen, voice recognition system,motion sensing devices and switches;

(H). a receive and send interface component to enable the database to bechanged, modified, or updated through linkage to the internet by smartphones, smart phone networks, radio broadcast, satellite radio broadcastor by insertion of a portable memory device, where such interface willalso enable sending data from the invented device through the internetto data collection servers;

(I). software which enables the system to operate and to perform aunique function which is to automatically establish and/or maintainradio frequency communication between the invention device and single ormultiple fixed location radio frequency transmitter or transceiverfacilities enabled by information contained in the database set forthabove.

(J). a power source and a clock; and

(K). a system electric bus to provide electrical interconnection to theinvented device's components.

Furthermore, the database may contain an additional data content ofRadio or TV broadcast program schedules associated with the transmittingfacilities.

The database may contain an additional data content of identification ofprograms and program schedules which are broadcast in duplicate andsimultaneously by multiple broadcast facilities in differing locations

The database may contain an additional data content of informationorganized in a matrix pattern of adjoining squares defined by geographiclongitude and latitude coordinates which cover a defined geographicarea, such as a country, a county or a continent or subsections of each.The square can be from 1000 feet by 1000 feet in size to 5 miles by 5miles in size, but each complete matrix contains uniform, same sizedsquares. Each matrix square is populated by data with digitaldesignations of fixed location radio communication facilities which canreasonably be expected, based on signal strength, to be detected by theinvented device, when it is located in that specific geographic matrixsquare. Additionally, for each such radio facility there is a digitalrepresentation of the probable signal strength present at current timein each matrix square based upon calculations using the publishedpropagation maps of the fixed location broadcast facilities, or bycalculations based upon terrain, distance between the invented deviceand the broadcast station, respective transmit power, frequency,modulation type, and antenna gain.

The database may contain an additional data content of digitalidentifying codes which categorize program content of broadcast intogroups, such as, but not limited to, sports commentary, football games,baseball games, basketball games, religious news, religious programming,alt-right news, alt-left news, syndicated news commentary, network news,programming in Spanish and other languages, music programming andspecifically types of music programming such as, but not limited to,retro rock music, oldies rock music, modern country, retro country,bluegrass; and other types of broadcast programming groups orcategories.

The database may contain an additional data content of digitalidentifying codes which identify those fixed location broadcastfacilities which carry specific program content which is simultaneouslybroadcast at many fixed location broadcast facilities. A separate codeis used for each specific program content such as the NPR new program“All Things Considered”.

The mobile or transportable device may have a secondary receiver whosefunction is to continuously scan the relevant radio frequency spectrumin order to sense and confirm which fixed location radio communicationfacilities present in the database can be reliably used at the currentlocation of the invented device. Such secondary receiver can eitheroperate as the primary receiver and demodulate the radio signal, orsense only signal strength, or it could have both capabilities.

The mobile or transportable device may also have signal samplingcircuitry and signal sampling software to perform pattern identificationand pattern recognition of Radio Broadcast programming.

Any of the invented device's components can be replaced by externalcomponents that are housed or installed in other devices and/or vehiclesprovided those external components are capable of performing thenecessary tasks and secondly, they will be transported with the inventeddevice, and thirdly an interface circuitry can be applied that enablesthe external component to function fully to perform the necessary tasks.

In one embodiment, in operation, the computer component of the mobile ortransportable device accepts and carries out user input/commands, whichincludes, as shown in FIG. 3, but are not limited to, to sense andrecord a user input/command at the user interface (step 310); interpretthe user input/command (step 320); retrieve and record current time fromclock and current location from the location sensor (step 330); retrieveand select data from the databases necessary to carry out the userinput/command (step 340); implement the user input/command using theretrieved data content (step 350); and direct the achieved content tothe appropriate output device/devices (step 360).

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device operably tunes ina specific broadcast program and maintains its reception during travelwhere ever possible.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device operably selects agroup of broadcast stations broadcasting a category of program materialor content and scans those stations until the user selects viainput/command one station.

In one embodiment, the mobile or transportable device operably selects alocal group of fixed location repeater stations or transceivers that canbe communicated with given the limits of propagation and reception ofthe invented device and the fixed locations stations; and then enablesthe user to scan, receives or transmits to any of those selectedrepeater stations and/or transceivers.

The mobile or transportable device may be connected through theinterface component using a smart cell phone, direct hardwireconnection, radio frequency link such as Bluetooth so that the smartcell phone can provide the invented device access to digital radiostations broadcast on the internet in order to expand program selectionand choices; and to provide additional connectivity to syndicated orsimultaneous broadcast programs which can used when other means ofprogram reception fails.

In one embodiment, data recording the specifics of the operation of themobile or transportable device can be stored for later transfer of thatcollected data at specified times through the internet to a data storageserver, where one set of data from one specific invented device iscombined and aggregated with data from other devices which can besubject to analysis. Such analysis can provide intelligence about theuser operation of the invented devices which can be used to improveservice or aid in marketing of products.

According to the invention, the mobile or transportable device can beapplied to any types of vehicles, such as personal vehicles, policevehicles, rescue vehicles, other transitory emergency vehicles,motorcycles, and boats. From time to time, all of these vehicles may becalled to travel from one community to another which may or may notshare the same frequency alignment. On occasion these vehicles travellong distances. In other cases they use these devices in othercountries. The invention would have the widespread applications in theseor other situations.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the inventionhas been presented only for the purposes of illustration and descriptionand is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain theprinciples of the invention and their practical application so as toenable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertainswithout departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is defined by the appended claims rather than theforegoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.

Some references, which may include patents, patent applications andvarious publications, are cited and discussed in the description of thisdisclosure. The citation and/or discussion of such references isprovided merely to clarify the description of the present disclosure andis not an admission that any such reference is “prior art” to thedisclosure described herein. All references cited and discussed in thisspecification are incorporated herein by reference in their entiretiesand to the same extent as if each reference was individuallyincorporated by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for automatically retuning a specificbroadcast program from a first fixed location radio communicationfacility to a second fixed location radio communication facility for amobile or transportable device, comprising: instructing the mobile ortransportable device to stay on a specific broadcast program;monitoring, by the mobile or transportable device, a radio signal of thespecific broadcast program broadcast from the first fixed location radiocommunication facility, when the radio signal is weaker than a thresholdvalue, the mobile or transportable device searches a database thereof tofind radio communication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility that broadcasts the same program as the specificbroadcast program and locates most closely to the current location ofthe mobile or transportable device; and operably retuning the mobile ortransportable device in the specific broadcast program broadcast fromthe first fixed location radio communication facility to the secondfixed location radio communication facility according to the radiocommunication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:establishing the rate and direction of travel of the mobile ortransportable device by reviewing the previous travel path of the mobileor transportable device; projecting its future travel area of the mobileor transportable device; and selecting a new fixed location radiocommunication facility according to the strength of the radio signal inthe future travel area utilizing broadcast propagation data in thedatabase of the mobile or transportable device.
 3. The method of claim1, further comprising selecting of a group of fixed location radiocommunication facilities in a given locality specified by their commonuse mode.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: selecting alocal group of fixed location repeater stations or transceivers that areoperably communicable with given limits of propagation and reception ofthe mobile or transportable device and the fixed location repeaterstations; and retrieving local repeater station frequency and operatingprotocols from the database, so as to enable the user to scan, monitor,and use the local repeater stations for communication or emergency use.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a group ofbroadcast stations broadcasting a category of program material orcontent and to scan those stations until the user selects viainput/command one station.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprisingcalculating a transmitted signal strength of a fixed location radiocommunication facility at the current location of the mobile ortransportable device according to a formula ofRPD=P*G/(4*π*D)², wherein RPD is a receiver power density, P is atransmitted power, G is a transmitting antenna gain, and D is a distancebetween the transmitter of the fixed location radio communicationfacility and the receiver of the mobile or transportable device, andwherein RPD is measured in Watts per square meter.
 7. A non-transitorytangible computer-readable medium storing instructions which, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause a mobile or transportabledevice to perform a method for automatically retuning a specificbroadcast program from a first fixed location radio communicationfacility to a second fixed location radio communication facility, themethod comprising: instructing the mobile or transportable device tostay on a specific broadcast program; monitoring, by the mobile ortransportable device, a radio signal of the specific broadcast programbroadcast from the first fixed location radio communication facility,when the radio signal is weaker than a threshold value, the mobile ortransportable device searches a database thereof to find radiocommunication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility that broadcasts the same program as the specificbroadcast program and locates most closely to the current location ofthe mobile or transportable device; and operably retuning the mobile ortransportable device in the specific broadcast program broadcast fromthe first fixed location radio communication facility to the secondfixed location radio communication facility according to the radiocommunication parameters of the second fixed location radiocommunication facility.
 8. The non-transitory tangible computer-readablemedium of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: establishingthe rate and direction of travel of the mobile or transportable deviceby reviewing the previous travel path of the mobile or transportabledevice; projecting its future travel area of the mobile or transportabledevice; and selecting a new fixed location radio communication facilityaccording to the strength of the radio signal in the future travel areautilizing broadcast propagation data in the database of the mobile ortransportable device.
 9. The non-transitory tangible computer-readablemedium of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises selecting of agroup of fixed location radio communication facilities in a givenlocality specified by their common use mode.
 10. The non-transitorytangible computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method furthercomprises: selecting a local group of fixed location repeater stationsor transceivers that are operably communicable with given limits ofpropagation and reception of the mobile or transportable device and thefixed location repeater stations; and retrieving local repeater stationfrequency and operating protocols from the database, so as to enable theuser to scan, monitor, and use the local repeater stations forcommunication or emergency use.
 11. The non-transitory tangiblecomputer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method furthercomprises selecting a group of broadcast stations broadcasting acategory of program material or content and to scan those stations untilthe user selects via input/command one station.
 12. The non-transitorytangible computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the method furthercomprises calculating a transmitted signal strength of a fixed locationradio communication facility at the current location of the mobile ortransportable device according to a formula ofRPD=P*G/(4*π*D)², wherein RPD is a receiver power density, P is atransmitted power, G is a transmitting antenna gain, and D is a distancebetween the transmitter of the fixed location radio communicationfacility and the receiver of the mobile or transportable device, andwherein RPD is measured in Watts per square meter.